IT has been heralded as the mouthpiece for David Cameron's Big Society.

The establishment of local television stations, the first of which, Estuary TV, was launched in Grimsby last night, is expected to help promote local democracy.

Former Culture Secretary Jermey Hunt, who is the brains behind the Government's plans for a network of local TV stations, took his inspiration from America, where the networks are teeming with independent local channels.

He questioned why local television could work in Birmingham, Alabama, but not Birmingham in the West Midlands.

In the UK, news is often viewed as a loss-leader by commercial channels – something to add to the prestige of the station, or fulfill the public service remit in its licence, rather than a major source of profits.

But in America, it is the commercial lifeblood of thousands of local network affiliates, delivering content to its viewers and profits to its owners.

So with the creative industries booming in the UK, Mr Hunt took the leap of faith to try to transport the success of local TV stations in America to England.

The UK's creative industries are worth more than £36 billion a year; they generate £70,000 every minute for the UK economy; and they employ 1.5 million people.

According to industry figures, they account for about £1 in every £10 of the UK's exports.

Local TV is seen by ministers as a vehicle to promote growth and jobs within the industry, while protecting the interests of citizens and helping to ensure we have a plurality of owners in the media industry.

But not everyone has welcomed the proposals, which will see 19 local TV stations created while a further 23 are processed.

Harriet Harman, Labour's shadow minister for culture and media, voted against the proposals when they went before Parliament.

Writing for a national newspaper, she said: "The idea, so the government says, is to bring local news to people so they can hold their politicians to account. But local TV is not happening in rural areas such as the borders of Scotland where there is a dispersed audience.

"Nor do we know what will be shown on these local TV channels.

"There is only one or at most two hours of local news promised.

"We have been told there cannot be pornography for the other 22 or 23 hours, but no other stipulation has been made as to what the content might be …

"It just doesn't make sense. Perhaps this is a vanity project from Hunt which he is determined will succeed and so is throwing £120-million of public money at it."

There have also been concerns about the economic viability of the stations.

A report led by Lazard investment banker Nicholas Shott back in 2010 estimated that a network of ten local TV services would have a combined cost base of about £25 million.

As just £5 million is forecast to come from local advertising, the services would need to earn a further £15 million from national advertising revenues and the BBC would have to provide about £5 million of locally-produced content.

But praise has come in the form of Cleethorpes MP Martin Vickers, who said: "I am very much in favour of Estuary TV, it was an initiative put forward by the former culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt who fought very hard to get his way in the face of great resistance."

So what do the people behind it think?

Lia Nici, executive producer, said: "Often we don't realise how innovative we are in Grimsby and actually we're ahead of the game.

"We are the first local Freeview channel to launch and that is a huge accolade for the creative industries in our region.

" The key to the work we do is training. People come from all over the globe to train here because they can't get this type of training anywhere else and we will be working with over 200 students every year in the production of our programmes."

MP Ed Vaizey, the Minister for Culture, Communications and Creative Industries, recently toured the facilities, based at the Grimsby Institute, as reported.

He said: "I think there is a good tradition of regional broadcasting in the UK that can cover a wide area. What Grimsby has shown is that there is an appetite for local news that is also produced locally.

"The facilities at the Grimsby Institute are state-of-the-art. One of the opportunities for local television is the training that can be provided for young people and the fact they can do that in first-class facilities like this is fantastic."

SPORTING personality Sharron Davies was in Grimsby yesterday to officially open Cleethorpes Academy's new sports block.

The Olympic swimmer won silver at the 1980 Moscow Olympics in the 400m individual medley, and two gold medals at the Commonwealth Games in 1978.

She is now a TV sports commentator and did the honours to launch the new facility.

She told students and staff: "You are very privileged to have such wonderful facilities to use.

"Since the Olympics last year, more and more young people are getting involved in sport and this is a wonderful opportunity for the students at Cleethorpes Academy to do so."

Sharron was also a guest at the academy's prizegiving ceremony.

Addressing students, principal Martin Brown said: "We have to prepare students for the actual future, not a future version of the best bits of the past.

"Our students have to be prepared to be employed in occupations that don't exist yet; using technologies that have not been invented, to solve problems that we don't know exist yet.

"The point is that it is a world for you and future generations to discover, all my generation can do is help to prepare you for the journey."

See your Telegraph tomorrow for more coverage.

"IT is good seeing so many footballers really enjoying the game and playing it the way it should be played."

Those were the words of Tony Parrott – chairman of the South Bank Alarms Grimsby Sunday League – after picking up a prestigious award.

Parrott received the Services to Sport award at the annual NELSA presentation evening at the Beachcomber, in Humberston.

"It came as a surprise to me that I had been nominated and I was very grateful," he said.

"Once I saw the people I was competing with, I thought I had no chance.

"Barry Brown is a great guy and has represented cricket very well.

"Pete Winchester is an icon in the swimming world and is a person who has a lot of support.

"Once the result was announced, I was amazed – and I was very pleased to receive the cup from councillor Mick Burnett."

Parrott has been involved with the town's Sunday football league since its launch in 1952, and has served the competition as a player, administrator, and in recent years as chairman.

He continued: "The greatest pleasure I get is from meeting so many good people, and the Sunday League is full of people always willing to help.

"It is good seeing so many footballers really enjoying the game and playing it the way it should be played.

"That is why this league is still holding its own, despite the backdrop of the national decline of 11-a-side football.

"Discipline is another big factor, as it is improving each and every week.

"The league has Charter Standard and is the largest 11-a-side adult league in Lincolnshire.

"We regularly have our committee members at grounds, observing standards and making contact with players.

"This way we hope to eliminate problems before they really start.

"It is also an opportunity to meet referees and to make yourself known. They are very important in the make-up of our league and their contribution is greatly appreciated."

Despite the success of the Grimsby Sunday League, Parrott was keen to sound a note of caution.

He added: "Sunday football in this area is on a tightrope.

"We lost teams last season, but I can now see potential growth which will, hopefully, swell our numbers again.

"There is no doubt that the development at Bradley has made a big difference, and we use it to a maximum on a Sunday morning.

"The staff at Bradley ensure that the site is well managed – which is a far cry to days of yesteryear with burnt-out cars, people parking anywhere and causing problems.

"Another potential growth area is the Humber Cup competition in the summer.

"Entries are increasing every year. We use the Bradley site and games are played throughout the week between July and August."

Parrott has worked tirelessly to improve the standard of the league over the years, and his enthusiasm and commitment has clearly helped it to flourish.

STUART Carrington has a potential TV clash with Mark Selby in his sights – as he prepares to chalk up in the UK Championship.

The Grimsby potter takes on Ben Woollaston in the First Round of the York competition tomorrow (9.30am).

Carrington, 23, is two wins away from a likely meeting with Selby, pictured – the reigning champion – in a clash that would 'mean the world' to him.

However, the Cue World pro must first overcome Wollaston, and then either Ken Doherty or John Astley in round rwo.

Carrington said: "It would mean the world to me to take on Mark live on TV.

"To play a great player like him in the second biggest competition of the season would be an absolute honour.

"It would be brilliant to get to that stage, and if it does happen, I will hopefully put up a good fight in front of the cameras.

"You gain confidence from each match that you win, so my first and realistic aim is to win two or three matches and make it through."

While Carrington is excited by the prospect of pitting his wits against Selby, he remains focused on the initial task at hand.

The Grimsby man goes head-to-head with close friend, Woollaston, knowing that victory could see him face Doherty for the second time in six weeks.

Carrington defeated the 1997 world champion 6-3 in the International Championship.

He added: "I know Ben off the table, we are good mates and it should be a good game.

"When you get to the table it's just another game. We've known each other for quite a few years, but it is just another game of snooker.

"It's a great experience for me to play in these countries, and in these massive tournaments.

"I'm constantly match sharp, which all the players are, but I have to make sure I keep on top of it and that I'm ready to go in the morning."

Keep track of Carrington's progress at the Barbican Centre in the Telegraph.

THE thousands of pounds being spent regenerating Freeman Street in Grimsby will have been wasted if street drinking and antisocial behaviour is not tackled, according to Humberside's Police and Crime Commissioner.

The PCC Matthew Grove told Freeman Street traders and representatives from agencies across North East Lincolnshire at a meeting on Monday that partnership working was the key to preventing the street becoming a no-go zone.

The meeting, held at Grimsby's new Open Door centre, in Albion Street, was prompted by an October front page in the Grimsby Telegraph which highlighted the drinking, drug-taking, sex workers and daylight robbery that takes place on Grimsby's once premier shopping area.

"All this regeneration will come to nothing if we do not tackle this," said Mr Grove.

"We need every organisation to pull together here to try and drive street drinkers off the streets, we are all pieces of the jigsaw which will solve this."

Fed-up traders told the meeting that their customers feel intimidated and that the groups of drinkers are driving shoppers away from Freeman Street.

People have been filmed taking and selling drugs in public, while one woman was seen burning a substance with a child next to her.

Traders have apportioned blame to the sale of cheap foreign beer in off-licences.

Mr Grove admitted the size of the task, but said it was "not a unique problem to Freeman Street or Grimsby".

But he said the drinking and related antisocial behaviour was causing "real difficulty" to traders and to the ambience of the area.

He said the impending ban on drinking alcohol in public places was the first piece in the jigsaw, but that the larger issue was "a complex social problem".

He said: "We are talking double figures of people standing around in each group, they are noisy and they are encouraged to the area by cheap alcohol."

Councillor Steve Beasant, Liberal Democrat member for the East Marsh Ward, said: "Residents have told me that when they are walking down there they cross the road to avoid the groups because they feel intimidated, particularly outside the pubs.

"That is a traffic safety concern in itself, people constantly crossing the road."

Gemma McCarthy, North East Lincolnshire Council licensing enforcement officer, said the authority was looking closely at the 'Ipswich model', where police and partners launched a campaign to stop the sale of super strength alcohol from off-licences.

She said evidence showed that people drinking lower strength beer would be more susceptible to help from agencies.

Adrian Moody, licensing manager, conceded that unless a nationwide minimum pricing policy was introduced, it would be very difficult to control the pricing of alcohol itself.

The police commissioner suggested a root cause could be the sale of individual cans, providing a short-term fix for the thirsty.

Debbie Fagan, head of strategic housing at the council, said the nine pubs, two restaurants and five off licenses in Freeman Street, meant alcohol was readily on tap.

"We also know that proper smoking areas are limited. The pubs were built well before the smoking ban and were not designed to accommodate it, people therefore have to go out on to the street," she said.

Sergeant Colin Jarrett, of Humberside Police, said there was "massive under-reporting" of crime in the area, and urged traders, shoppers and residents to log every crime they see.

He said more crimes being reported would result in a higher visibility of police in the area.

A trader suggested the nearby Harbour Place, which offers support for the homeless, was attracting the drinkers.

"They are all congregating in that area, they are noisy and they are rowdy," he said.

Allen Young, project director at Harbour Place, said the centre was dealing with 55 people each day on average, and was getting people back in to work.

He said people who had been drinking or taking drugs were not tolerated, but said he feared so called "legal highs" were a growing issue.

"Seventy per cent of those people who are causing a problem do not come to Harbour Place, and we have strict policy on banning people," he said.

"Now legal highs have come on the scene, people who are on them are on another planet and it is disturbing.

"But we are part of the solution, there are a lot of poor people in the area and we are trying to get people back on the straight and narrow.

"All we can do is work with all who come to us to try and sort out their problems."

A FORMER council worker and a builder have been given suspended jail terms after admitting defrauding the local authority out of thousands of pounds of grant money.

Brian Drake, who was responsible for the Empty Homes Grant scheme during his time at North East Lincolnshire Council, and builder and property manager Darren Major went on trial earlier this month charged with conspiracy to defraud.

The prosecution alleged that Major, 41, of Brereton Avenue, Cleethorpes, had claimed funding of £170,000 to renovate empty homes under the scheme, and that at least £50,000 of the work had not been carried out.

It was claimed that the payments were signed off by Drake, 43, of Beverley, as part of an "agreement to rip off local landlords".

But more than two weeks into their trial at Grimsby Crown Court, the jury was sent home after the charge against the pair was dropped.

Instead they pleaded guilty to nine counts of fraud by false representation – Drake to five of them and Major to six – between July 13, 2007 and April 30, 2008.

Michael Smith, prosecuting, said the amounts to which the pair had claimed for or signed off work which had not been done was £28,165 for Drake and £22,394 for Major.

However, these figures were disputed by Major's barrister Gordon Stables, who claimed there were several instances where work deemed not to have been done had actually been carried out.

He added that in some cases the value of the work carried out exceeded the grant received from the council.

Judge David Tremberg accepted the prosecution's figures were "open to question" but said the harm the pair had caused could not be quantified merely by the monetary value of the work which was not done.

He told them: "That does not take into account the stress, hurt, inconvenience, vexation that you caused to the landlords."

The judge gave both men credit for their guilty pleas, accepted that the properties in question were habitable despite their defects, and that five to seven years had elapsed since the offences.

He said "time has not been kind" to either man, with both suffering ill health and marital breakdown.

Judge Tremberg sentenced both men to one year in prison, suspended for 18 months and imposed upon them a 28-day curfew from 8pm to 6am.

He told them: "The purpose of the curfew is to bring home to you how close you have come to getting locked up."

The court heard how "time has not been kind" to Darren Major and Brian Drake since they defrauded the council out of thousands of pounds of grant money between 2007 and 2008.

Major's barrister Gordon Stables said his client had "fallen very, very low from where he was when he was doing well and was successful."

He told the court Major had divorced and now lived in a house by himself, except for when his two children, aged 14 and 10, come to stay with him.

He had a second property, which was about to be repossessed, and that a "significant debt will be coming his way".

Major had been advised by his doctor not to work because of a mystery illness, which was causing him to suffer blackouts.

"He is scared by it. He doesn't know how much longer he might live. He is unable to work. He can't get any insurance to work as a builder. He is not really sure what the future holds for him."

Mr Stables said that because of the success of his business, Major was being "pressured" to take on more work, could no longer work alone and had to trust the other directors to sign off work.

Drake's barrister Andrew Petterson said his client denied benefiting from the frauds.

He said Drake had separated from his wife since being charged with the offences, and that the case had a "seriously detrimental affect on his health".

Drake had worked since being summarily dismissed by North East Lincolnshire Council in 2008, but was not currently in employment. He was currently claiming incapacity benefit because of difficulties with his shoulder.

A VICTIM of indecent assault told a court she suffers flashbacks, nausea, physical and emotional distress because of the sexual abuse she suffered.

The life of the woman, now 41, had been "in limbo" until the sentencing of Steven Fifield, 62, of Tivoli Gardens, Grimsby.

The former dock worker denied charges of sexual assault and indecent assault, but was convicted by a jury at Grimsby Crown Court.

He was locked up for a total of eight years for four counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault on a female from the age of five to 20 years of age.

Over the course of the woman's life he manipulated and groomed her into allowing him to assault her, the court heard.

Judge Mark Bury said Fifield had shown no remorse and his behaviour had "gross effects" on the woman.

The judge gave him a stern warning of possible contempt of court as Fifield was led away claiming: "Is that for something I have not done?"

The judge also imposed a restraining order banning any contact with the complainant for life.

Fifield must sign on the Sex Offenders' Register for life.

Now, as he has been sentenced for his crimes, his victim has spoken out in a bid to encourage more women not to be afraid and to call the police.

The lady, who has asked not to be identified, says the abuse started when she was just five years old.

She said: "I knew it was the right thing to do, to call the police and report what he had done.

"The attacks started when I was about five and continued almost weekly until I was 20 and I could afford to move myself away from the situation.

"I managed to block out what had happened to me for many years after until I started getting flashbacks and nightmares.

"It was then I knew I had to report it.

"Many people will question why I never called the police before, why I never reported as a child, but what you have to understand is the mental control these kinds of people have over you.

"They are manipulative and overpowering.

"You don't have to shout no to tell someone you don't want to do something.

"I grew up thinking what he was doing was a normal thing to do.

"He groomed and controlled me over a 14-year period.

"It happened nearly every week and it got to the point were I would just block it out until he had finished.

"At first I tried to refuse and say 'no', but these kind of people are persistent and wear you down until you feel you have no choice, no control.

"I finally managed to get away from the situation when I was 20.

"Many will ask, why even in my older years did I not force him away, did I not stop it.

"But, despite my age, I was very young inside because of his manipulation.

"A few years later when I started getting flashbacks, I decided to call the police.

"I just picked up the phone and told them that I had been sexually abused.

"It was the first step in the process to getting him punished for what he did.

"Other people, other victims need to realise it is not your fault you have been abused, it is theirs and they need to be brought to justice.

"The courts and the police have been so supportive and so helpful to ensure I felt safe and secure in giving my evidence.

"You do not have to face these people in court, you can be in a private room to give your evidence.

"What you have to remember is this, you will not get 'closure'. Many people use this word when talking about these situations, but it will not happen.

"You will always carry the burden of what they have done to you, however reporting them and calling the police will at least see them punished for what they have done.

"Please, if you have suffered, just call the police, do not let them get away with what they have done."

In mitigation, Megan Rhys said her client suffered ill-health.

WHAT a constructive and honest article by Geoff Ford in the Grimsby Telegraph on Friday, November 22.

Geoff, in my eyes,was speaking as a true Grimsby Town supporter who honestly cannot understand why the local council finds it hard to back John Fenty and the Mariners in their quest to build a new stadium.

It seems to me that where ever there is a place targeted in Grimsby, there is a immediate battle just to crush the idea of the project taking place.

In his article, Geoff reeled off a number of football clubs who have gained new grounds through working with the local councils, and making the stadiums a community building.

One he did forget though was Swansea City – just look where they are now, in the Premier League.

When I played for Town for instance in the 1970s, we played Swansea away near the end of the season and they were fighting to stay in the league. They just stayed up by few points which they gained near the end of the season.

Town finished in the top six that season.

They now have a communal stadium working with the local council and, yes, I do believe also a very rich sole owner, who works closely with the council for the benefit of the football club and the local residents.

I see that local leader of the Liberal Democrats, Andrew De Freitas, has gone and stuck his objections to the stadiums being built in his ward – did he not also object to a ground being in Great Coates?

Bit of a strange Town supporter Andrew is, I wonder if he still goes to watch Town anymore.

Mr Fenty, the Grimsby Town director, must feel underneath fed up to the sky with the constant objections that wherever the club look at a ground being built there is an immediate objection to the project.

Again I will quote what Geoff says and I agree with him fully, his headline was: "Grimsby should stand and deliver a new stadium."

As an ex-councillor for NEL and also a very keen Grimsby Town supporter who still lives in the region after coming to the town 45 years ago, I wish that all the relevant people get together and work this out – let's get behind Mr Fenty and make this happen.

Dave Boylen – Grimsby Town Football Club 1966/1978

JOHN Fenty has urged the public to ignore the "horror stories" about the Mariners' proposed new stadium.

North East Lincolnshire Council's Cabinet this week approved a 12-month 'exclusivity agreement' to allow the club to look at how it could redevelop land west of Peaks Parkway into a new 14,000-seat stadium and retail development.

The Mariners believe the 22.7-hectare site – which includes allotments and a former council depot – could finally allow them to relocate from Blundell Park.

Town director Fenty said: "The extension will give us more time to look at the enabling side of the project because we know a football stadium can fit there and can harmonise with the immediate locality.

"Whilst there are some horror stories being spoken about in opposition to the move, I think we can appease those in total and actually provide some benefits to those living down Wintringham Road in terms of the congestion they currently incur.

"With a lot of the traffic linked with funeral ceremonies and school arrival and departure times, some or all of that could be brought off Peaks Parkway.

"So I can see material benefits potentially, as we evolve this project, for the residents in the local area.

"Naturally there will be some issues that we can't fully resolve, but I think we can do a lot to mitigate the impact on the community."

A MOTORIST has exposed one of the average speed cameras on Grimsby's Peaks Parkway as going against guidance issued by the government.

Hayden Dawkins, of Humberston, spotted that the final camera on the left-hand side as motorists drive under the Pasture Street bridge and into Grimsby town centre does not have the required 60m of visibility.

Guidance issued by the Department for Transport states that speed cameras should be visible from 60m away in a 40mph zone or less. In fact, the speed camera in question is only visible from around half that distance.

Safer Roads Humber, which operates the average speed cameras, said the government direction was guidance and not a rule.

The cameras, which were switched on in October, have so far caught hundreds of motorists exceeding the 30mph limit, including one man who picked up five tickets in seven days.

So far more than 1,500 members of the public have signed a petition calling on North East Lincolnshire Council to remove the average speed cameras and increase the speed limit to 40mph.

The Grimsby Telegraph's own petition to gauge support for the 30mph to be retained has attracted just over 80 signatures.

As reported, the council has announced a review of the area's average speed cameras, and has delayed installation of a system on the Laceby bypass as a result, although due to a "communications error" they were put up and taken down again last week.

Mr Dawkins said people who have been clocked by the speed camera in question should be given their money and points back.

"A lot of people have been caught and it seems to be one rule for Joe Public and one rule for the authorities and that really annoys me."

"There is no justification for cameras down there at all, the authorities have pointed to accidents but most of them are not speed related.

"The decisions have to be based on the right statistics."

Ruth Gore, marketing officer for Safer Roads Humber, said: "This is guidance that we used, issued by the Department for Transport when the partnership was first set up.

"The gentleman is correct but it is actually guidance, not rules, stating that the 'Equipment, officer or vehicle containing the speed enforcement equipment must be visible from 60m in a 40mph zone or less and at 100m in higher speed limit zones'.

"The guidance also says that safety cameras should be yellow and that they should be clearly signed.

"The partnership has always tried to comply with this guidance at its core safety camera sites but doesn't legally have to – it has nothing to do with the offence of speeding.

"The cameras on Peaks Parkway will be clearly visible for the drivers' view as, after all, they need to see the vehicle to detect its speed."

A MAN who "gloated" about shooting a Lithuanian in the head with a crossbow after an argument got "out of hand" faces ten years in jail for attempted murder.

The victim narrowly escaped death when, after being knocked unconscious during a fight in a Grimsby park, when 22-year-old Rod Woolliss fired the 18-inch-long crossbow into his cheek, just below the ear.

Rolanda Gedminas was taken to hospital with the eight-inch bolt sticking out of the side of his head, where it was removed by surgeons.

At Hull Crown Court yesterday, Woolliss, of Millom Way, Grimsby, admitted attempting to murder Mr Gedminas, 27, and also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and attempted grievous bodily harm.

Adrian Francis, 25, of Corporation Road, Grimsby, pleaded guilty to violent disorder and attempted grievous bodily harm. Ashley Meadows, 27, of Haven Avenue, Grimsby, admitted to violent disorder and not guilty to attempted grievous bodily harm.

And a 17-year-old, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to a charge of violent disorder.

Prosecuting, Richard Woolfall told how a violent confrontation took place between two groups of men, both armed, at 10.30pm in the Duke of York Gardens on July 7.

"There was an incident the day before in a shop when there was an exchange of words between some Lithuanian men and a shopkeeper," said Mr Woolfall.

"This group of men heard about it. There is some suggestion that each group had weapons. It got out of hand.

"Mr Gedminas was kicked repeatedly on the ground and lost consciousness. Mr Woolliss went to Mr Francis' house and collected a crossbow.

"It was operated with one hand, rather than the two-handed variety, and is classified as a lethal weapon. He had used it the day before for shooting at a fence. Mr Francis has put Gedminas in the recovery position.

"Woolliss returned and stood over him, pausing for a few seconds before firing the crossbow at his head. The bolt penetrated his head. If it had been any deeper, or 1mm either way, he would have died instantly."

"Woolliss was gloating about what he had done."

The bolt penetrated Mr Gedminas's face by one centimetre before hitting bone. He underwent surgery at Grimsby's Diana, Princess Of Wales Hospital.

The court heard how Woolliss had previous convictions for drugs and dishonesty, but had never been to jail for violence before.

Barrister Richard Butters, representing Woolliss, said the Crown had opened the case fairly and asked for a direction on the possible sentence his client would face. He said there was "no point" in asking for a pre-sentence report in his case.

Judge Mettyear told Woolliss. "The maximum sentence I will impose in your case is ten years for all three offences." Barristers agreed to adjourn for sentencing at Hull Crown Court on December 23.

Woolliss, Francis and Meadows were remanded in custody and the 17-year-old released on bail. No Lithuanians faced charges as a result of the violence.

MOST onlookers were impressed as Grimsby Town defeated Scunthorpe United – not least Coalville boss Adam Stevens.

The part-timers host the Mariners in the FA Trophy First Round on Saturday, looking to bridge a three-level gap between the clubs in the non-league pyramid.

The Northern Premier League Division One South side knew it was going to be a tough task against their Conference Premier visitors.

And, after watching Town's FA Cup victory over the Iron first-hand last week, Stevens admits it is a daunting proposition for his men.

He told the Telegraph: "I headed across to watch Grimsby at Scunthorpe in the cup. I thought they were exceptional that night and they thoroughly deserved the win.

"Regardless of who we play – Grimsby or someone in our own league – I always try to find out a few bits and bobs on the opposition and treat every game in the same professional manner.

"The two Grimsby centre-halves dominated that night, and obviously the forwards they've got also catch the eye.

"They've got four good strikers there – Hearn, Cook, John-Lewis and Hannah.

"But they've got quality all over the team and that's why they are where they are in the league.

"We're going to have to be at our very best because we're playing a top four or five side in the Conference Premier. They are there on merit and on a great run of form, but we're looking forward to it."

The Ravens have already progressed through four rounds to reach the first round proper of the competition and Town's visit.

And with 12 victories from their last 15 matches in total, Stevens' men head into the clash brimming with confidence.

He added: "If your best isn't good enough then so be it, but we certainly won't be just enjoying the 'occasion'. You want to go out and impress as a player and as a football club.

"If Grimsby have an off day and we're on it, then you never know what can happen in football.

"It's a great chance to test ourselves against players from a higher level – managerially and on the pitch."

GRIMSBY Town are expecting two bumper crowds next week for a league and cup home double-header.

Following Saturday's FA Trophy opener at Coalville Town, the Mariners return to Blundell Park and Conference action on Tuesday.

Welling are the visitors as Town look to make it five league victories on the bounce (7.45pm).

Tickets for this clash are on sale from the Mariners' ticket office – as are seats for the FA Cup Second Round tie against Northampton Town on Saturday, December 7.

A potentially lucrative third round place is at stake as Aidy Boothroyd's League Two head to Cleethorpes.

Tickets are now on unrestricted sale. Season ticket holders will have until 5pm on Wednesday to purchase their seats. After this date they may be sold.

Normal prices apply, and tickets can be bought online at www.gtfctickets.co.uk